Out of Character:
The evening sun crowned the distant peaks with fire, a blinding halo of celestial light descending upon the legendary land of Scara Brae. Even from here, several miles from the enticing shore, the scene took one’s breath away. The Windlacer Mountains dominated most of the landscape with streaks of radiant clouds filling the endless sky above. The deep shadows cast swallowed up the golden shore and sparkling ocean, transforming the sea into a priceless gem, waving in constant motion. The rays of the half-visible sun raced over mountains and ocean alike, as if they were competing to see who would reach the eastern horizon the soonest. All the while, the Water’s Nymph, amber sails billowing in the wind, carved through the glistening waves.
Aboard the ship, activity was slow and close to none. All the preparations for the night had been complete in the past hour, and only those sailors who were on shift strolled atop the deck. But that isn’t to say that there were not others above deck. In twos or threes, the passengers walked about, talking quietly about their hopes and dreams and their plans for their new lives; what they would do when, after three months at sea, they would finally dock in Scara Brae and be free of the cramped life aboard a ship.
For on the morrow, the Water’s Nymph would glide into the grand harbor of Scara Brae, the magnificent walls and buildings of the famous city signaling the end of the long journey across the ocean. This, of course, caused great excitement to those aboard, passengers and crewmen alike. Reminisces about the past journey and hopeful gossip about the future could be heard everywhere. People moved about, finding some and leaving others in their excitement. Well, most everyone, that is.
Resting against the ship’s starboard railing, a young man gazed toward the far peaks, eyes distant as he pondered. He leaned gently against the smooth railing and the light silhouetted his slender shoulders. His stance spoke of an elegant beauty known of the fair folk, but it seemed blended with mortality. The dark clothes that graced his form rustled in the calm breeze, but remained pinned to his body by the long, black sheath and hilt of the blade that was strapped comfortably on his back. Slim scars laced his arms, highlighted by the setting sun and two rings, one on each hand, sparkled like the purest flame. The fine lengths of his hair glowed like the final stages of twilight, revealing subtle traces of indigos and blues as they danced in the air. And yet, the most captivating feature to the man was his eyes. Fitting perfectly with his slender face and accentuated with light impressions of shadow, the two portals gleamed as red as freshly-spilt blood in the crimson light. He stood alone, always giving off a foreboding aura that seemed to speak of mystery and hidden power, warning others to keep their distance. But in reality, he simply did not seek out companionship. He preferred to watch and listen, learning as much as he could without becoming involved and so adding to the layers of the mysterious shadows which veiled his form.
But now, Kryos simply pondered, entertained by errant thoughts as the land of Scara Brae slowly drifted past him. The time he had spent at sea had caused him to really ponder what he had been doing the past five years and the reasons that he had come aboard this vessel in the first place. He believed that his choice to leave his homeland had been correct, but where exactly he felt that he needed to do such a thing he did not know. The option had just presented itself and he took it. He had left Alerar, and everything he had known, behind him. Perhaps it was that he was tired of constant failure there. That maybe just being in the same country of his home had been too much for his subconsciousness. Perhaps, it was just time he simply moved on.
Anger, regret and revenge had been his driving force for the past five years. He had spent that time surviving, learning and planning for revenge, to undo what had been done. Ever since that incident, when he had been brutally forced into reality, he had chased the shadows of his past with relentless determination. And every time that he had thought that he was making progress, that he was approaching his goal, he would lose sight of his target and he would have to deal with the horrendous feeling of loss. Somehow, he had managed to push on.
It wasn’t until recently, during the voyage to Scara Brae, that he had realized what he had done. Nothing. In effect, Kryos had wasted five years chasing something that he could never catch, no matter how hard he tried. In his pursuit of redemption, he had gained nothing.
So he readjusted his priorities. Revenge still lay on the front of his mind and drove him on, but now he would pursue this in a different way. He would experience the world, learn as much as he could. In doing so, he would gain more in a month than he had in five years of his past life. By learning more, he reasoned, he would be able to act more efficiently when the time came to set things right.
The evening grew still and calm. Those walking along the wooden planks on the ship stopped, pausing in their conversations, and looked to the west. Even the wind and waves seem to calm as the last sliver of the sun bravely shone. It was as if the entire world were holding its breath in respect to the source of all life in Althanas, showing its gratitude and wonder as the sky alighted with all shades of amber and gold, cerulean and scarlet. In a moment that seemed to stretch on to eternity, the world seemed at rest. Then, the sun disappeared. The day was finished and the sun surrendered its sway over the land to the brief reign of twilight.
Kryos watched the sky and land as they blossomed with color. He watched how, after the sun had descended beyond view, the vast expanse above him retained the captivating iridescence even though the author had gone. And he saw, that as time passed the luster and life of the burning sky dimmed and grew faint, draining of color, just as his eyes now faded in intensity, slowly changing from the smoldering scarlet of the day to the subtle silver of night. As the transformation drew closer to its completion, the air thickened with the invading darkness and it embraced the ship, along with its many charges, with the trust that the night would watch over their journey as it drew to a close.
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